This is about then-Governor of California Jerry Brown, and is sung from his perspective. In the song, an imaginary President Brown outlines his Hippie/Zen Fascist vision of America. In 1984, the Dead Kennedys re-released this song on their album In God We Trust, Inc., which is about then-president Ronald Reagan. It was re-titled, "We've Got A Bigger Problem Now." (thanks, Zach - Central, NJ)

This looks like a good place to mention somebody else who had a dark view of California: Al Kooper in Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards says, "The New York sensibility has always regarded California with suspicion. If your system is geared to New York's nonstop adrenaline rush, the relaxed California life-style can seem as if you're playing a 45 RPM record at 33(1/3). Usually, if New Yorkers follow that slow a pace, they move to Florida." Kooper also relates the experience of staying at a friend's house which was actually a disgusting bug-ridden crash pad, and visiting another friend who, although rich, was too stoned to notice that he was eating dog food. Together, these experiences gave him an impression that California is depressing.

Comments: 22

Jello Biafra was inspired to write the song by Jerry Brown setting himself up as a "leader" for the hippies in California to further his political career. The song takes this idea to the extreme as a comment on how roups of people can be manipulated by a "power hungry fascist"posing as a liberal(Jello's description of Jerry Brown).A ery funny lyric (if you can cope with this kind of humour!) which mixes up images of hippy California and Nazi Germany ("suede-denim secret police"/"organic poion gas"/"jog for the master race" etc).Ross - Leicester, United Kingdom

Love this song. Now it's 1984. 1984 is a great book.Corey - Richmond, Va

This was later redone by the Diposable Heroes of HipHoprisy in 1991 with lyrics about then Governor Pete Wilson. I think the fascist references work better with Wilson than with Jerry Brown.Mikey - Ft Worth, Tx

Possibly one of my favorite Dead Kennedy songs, i love the DK's vocals, that kindy shaky-cool tone, and i love the chorus of this, it just sounds so awesome!Ziggy - Redding, Ca

Jello Biafra did a version of this song with the Melvins called Kalifornia Uber Alles, taking the perpective of California governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar (sp).Dee Dee - Seattle, Wa

This song is alwsome! It's on Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.V-starr - ?????????, Mi

The guitar in this song sounds broken. I love it!!!!!!!!!Max - Laconia, Nh

To Paul from Zion, ILThe use of Uber in California Uber Alles is used to point out the similarity between the imagined Jerry Brown regime and Hitler's reign over nazi Gemany. Germany's national anthem is Deutschland Uber Alles.Jeremy - Minneapolis, Mn

The 1984 references are as follows:

-"Big Bro'" is Big Brother, or the government watching you-"Now it is 1984" says that we are living in George Orwell's dystopian society-The "suede/denim secret police" are the ministry agents and they are "coming for your uncool niece"

Excellent song!!!Sam - Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Great song with!Dylan - Olmsted Falls, United States

I'm a high school teacher in Massachusetts and we have a state-mandated "Harmony Week." As one option, a group of kids was learning meditation in a room all sitting lotus-style on the floor. I didn't know whether to laugh or puke. I realized then that Brown didn't need to become president for the hippies to control everything when that whole generation was given the keys pretty much from birth.Ralph - Newton, Ma

This song is awesome! Every now and then (like now) it pops into my head over the years and I can't get it out for a few days, they ipod gets stuck on "fresh fruit for rotting vegetables" for a few days.J - Nyc, Ny

Uber means over, so they're saying california over everything/all. I'm just putting this because i'm tired of uber being used incorrectly.Paul - Zion, Il

Oh, i almost forgot, just in case anyone is wondering about the 1984 thing (i doubt you are) it's a reference to george orwell's book 1984, which is shockingly close to america today, which isn't a good thing.Paul - Zion, Il

this song is fun to listen to. If you don't get DK's sarcasm, you won't like them at all. A great example is I Kill Children, fun to listen to, but not to be taken seriously.Sid - Lawton, Ia

This song is Ã?BER sinisterAngela - Las Vegas, Nv

This song is a great example of how the specific references in older punk songs can bring generations together. My father, an old-school newspaper journalist, had a grand time ranting about that SOB Brown when I asked him who the song was about.Kim - Stuart, Fl

This has to be easily one of the top 10 punk rock songs of all time the lyrics are funny, in a greatly satircal sense, and it speaks the truth.Zachary - Charlotte, Nc

they were not exagurating anything when they wrote this. jerry brown really was a racist and really wanted to be the dictator of california. i think this song falls in with govenator as wellMorgan - Huntington Beach, Ca

love the band and song, i lol'd at the lyricsMike - Plainfield, Il

The 'uber alles' bit comes from the German national anthem 'Das Lied der Deutschen', which had the infamous lyrics 'Deutschland, Deutschland Ã¼ber alles, Ã¼ber alles in der Welt' ('Germany, Germany above all, above anything in the world'). After 1945 only one stanza out of the four original was deemed PC enough to be sung.Martin - Sydney, Australia

I have no idea of the lyrics, but I will always remember this song. It came out in the 80's and was played frequently at a club I attended in Leeds, England. It is soooo frantic and urgent, and I only knew the chorus line, which is the song title, but sang it quite energetically all the same. :)Jane - San Antonio, Tx